(drunk on the job???)
"WHERE ARE MY PATIENTS." WILLIAM THUNDERS AT RUSS AND SAR. THE TWO WIDE EYED SQUIRES SHRINK BACKWARDS. AZ was actually grateful she didn't have to face that side of him when she ran away earlier, twice. She backed up slowly with a cringe. Silently wishing the two squires luck facing his wrath. No way was she going to be caught up in that mix.
"They woke up! Nick went home," Russ says at the same time that Sarah blurts, "Tor's upstairs. She said she was hungry!" AZ gapped.
"They really are some super soldiers huh?" Cause after all that fight she would take an opportunity to just soak in a warm bath or nap the whole day if she could. Russ nods quickly, agreeing with her.
"You have no idea." Sar says, she grimaces under the harsh gaze of the healer.
The raised voices elicit a low moan from Lord Davis, and William catches himself before he yells again. "And you let him?" Russ recovers first. "He's the—the king?"
"In this infirmary," William hisses, advancing on him, "I am your king. Nick was not discharged! His head is still healing!"
Bree was quiet at first but then was downtrodden as she said without thought. "He left me?" The rest left in the room turned to look at her questioningly. "I mean, just that he—not that I— I just thought I'd get to check on him first."
"Awww Bree, look at that you do have a cherished heart after all." AZ wipes fake tears from her face ignoring Brees glare. "I think i'm going to puke from the sweetness of it." That earned her a smack on the head.
"I deserved that."
Sar takes pity. "We didn't know where you guys went. Nick called your phone a bunch, said it went to voicemail. I think he thought you went home after... everything that happened in the woods." Bree looks down at the floor.
"Nick probably needs some space to catch his breath." Russ shrugs. "Think about it—he shows up to reclaim his title after years of being away, and boom! We're two Awakened Scions away from Arthur. I'd be freaking out too."
"With everything that goes on here in this place I'm surprised nobody is looking for therapy sessions." AZ mutters looking at the ceiling.
"Will?" On the far table, Evan stirs. William is at his side in three steps, his fury gone and kind bedside manner in place. "Stay still, Ev. You took a claw to the head, my friend." Evan follows orders, but he blinks bleary eyes open and scans the room. It only takes him a second to notice both of the cousins. He tenses on the bed.
"Hey, Bree and uh...AZ." He says awkwardly.
Bree gives him a wave the same time AZ says "Yo" a hand on her hips.
"Hey, Evan. And here I thought you were just a clueless frat boy." Bree greets him. He laughs weakly which then transfers into a cough.
"Don't tell Char I got hurt, 'kay?" Charlotte Simpson feels like a lifetime ago and a world away. They would have to go back to the real world after tonight, acting as if nothing happened.
"I run my mouth almost all the time but I won't tell her this." AZ reassures. He mutters "Cool." And relaxes on the bed.
William snorts. "If you're well enough to worry about your girlfriend, then you're well enough to recover in your own bed. Let me check you over before you go upstairs."
AZ feels a tug on her shoulder and she turns to see Sar. "Can I drive you guys home?" She asks and AZ gets a little bit too excited as she lights up like a puppy.
"Yes!" Sar startles a bit but smiles while this time it was Bree and the rest turn to look at AZ questioningly. Evan winces a bit at the loudness of her voice. She clears her throat. "I mean yes absolutely it would be greatly appreciated." Giving her an awkward smile.
Bree nods accepting Sars offer and the three of them make their way out. AZ looks curiously at the squire. "Surprised you didn't want to check on Tor first." She asked, with some cynicism in her voice. Sar didn't seem to notice though as she shrugged.
"My girl's mad grouchy when she's hungry, but she's fine." All of sudden AZ wanted Tor to be anything but.
William kicked Russ out of the infirmary too as they heard him mutter something about 'no peace in this house, and some Welsh' that sounds a lot like curses. AZ made a note to ask him what they meant.....for educational purposes of course.
Sar wasn't one of those people who has to fill a silent car with chatter. She turns the radio on, She parks her car in one of the campus lots close to the dorms. Bree decides to head off first, she had a major headache after thinking in the car. She kissed AZ on the cheek and bid Sar a thank you as well goodnight she also gave Sar Russ's sweatshirt. Leaving the two of them to chat. AZ suddenly feels like Bree did that on purpose, she didn't know if she wanted to thank her cousin or punch her on the head.
She would do both.
Quickly she turns to the pretty squire, looking at the Tesla right in front of them. "Really ya'll weren't playing." She gestures to the car. Sar looks back before chuckling a bit.
"Yeah the Order has a bunch we could use." AZ purses her lips.
"A million and counting I'm guessing." Sar shrugs.
"Not that much, but enough to provide for us."
"Must be nice." AZ says rather bitterly. This time Sar was able to catch on.
"Pretty pretentious isn't it." She says, understanding and AZ does a double take.
"No ...that's not what I was thinkin-" Sar raises her hand up. "Its okay, I know I'm not allowed to say stuff like that. Especially in front of the regents but..." She trails off. AZ turns to look at her curiously.
"You're a Vassals kid right?" She hoped she didn't sound rude, but she knew that wasn't the case.
"Aren't I rich you mean?" AZ doesn't say anything as the squire just smiles and wraps her sweater tighter around her narrow shoulders. "My mom comes from money, but my dad doesn't. She Paged at the Western Chapter in Virginia, but never Squired. That's where they met."
AZ blinked. From what she could remember about her parents when talking to her Aunt. Faye had said her father met her mother right when they were in college. They actually had studied the same major for a while before Debra switched. What she found funny was that her parents weren't each other's biggest fans at one point. Faye had a hard time believing when they eventually got together.
"Was your mother interested in being a squire?"
"At first. My grandparents definitely wanted her to, but then my parents got together and she realized she wanted a family." They turn down one of the walkways. "She'd never admit it, but I think she wanted the prestige, not the war."
"Ahh so the luxury of it all." AZ hums to herself. "So what about your dad? Did he know about the Order?"
Sar shakes her head. "Nah. Not until later. He's a sworn and pledged Vassal —had to be before they could marry—but mostly what he knows is the dinner parties and the opera tickets and the formal galas. Not that he's particularly well received at any of them."
"Really?"
"He's Venezuelan. But I pass, so people don't realize I am too. Or they forget. They say racist crap around me sometimes."
"How is it that these people work to defeat those demons or whatever and still have time to be racist?" AZ asks in disbelief. She didn't want to sound accusatory when she went to ask. "And you let them?"
Sar frowns and looks down at the ground. "Sometimes I check 'em. Sometimes I don't bother." AZ purses her lips. She didn't say anything after a while before curiosity got the best of her.
"Your dad, he's obviously gotta know how danger.-" Sar bumps her elbow so that she stops speaking. A pair of students—on the way to the twenty-four-hour library, by the looks of it—walk toward them on the path. Right the Code Of The Secrecy.
Once they pass, she glances over her shoulder to watch them turn the corner. "Sorry. What were you asking? Does my dad know how dangerous all this is? He knows what we fight and why, but I don't think it feels dangerous to him. Like you a Vassal, he can't see aether, and he's never seen a demon. He knows we have a healer and he knows that my Line hasn't been Called in decades, so he probably thinks I'm protected from the worst of it. Mom didn't want me to Squire unless I got Selected by a high-ranked Scion, since they're less likely to be Called. The Abatement, you know?"
"Abatement." AZ repeats. "That's a long ass word...what does it mean?"
She curses low. "Fitz is an ass, but he's right. Nick should have educated Bree on this. The risks are..." She stops.
"Sar, tell me, what's the Abatement?" Sar releases a heavy breath. "When a Scion is Awakened, all the power from their knight transfers to them. The Spell of Eternity is... serious casting, you know? But we're still human. The longer the Scions are Awake, the more it drains them. After they age out, most don't make it past thirty-five." AZ makes an oh face.
"I'll be damned..." She mutters low, gritting her teeth. She then feels her eyes move wide like saucers. "Draining enough so that it kills them is what you mean?" She asks the squire terrified. Sar is silent for a moment.
Hastily AZ loses her composure. "Right?!" Her slight yell causes Sar to wince a bit but she doesn't apologize. All that was on her mind was that Bree's life was on the line. And she didn't know.
Sar hurries to reassure her. "Only if they've been Awakened. It's... it's why the Legendborn are revered. Holy warriors and everything."
Felicity. Six hours ago she thought she'd live till her eighties. But now... "Can't the Scions.... I don't know.... just not fight? Let some other relative take the inheritance?" Sar kicks a pebble as they walk.
"Scions can't opt out of their blood. And once Awakened, they feel this... this need. To fight. Directly from their knights. If Tor's Called, she'll feel it, and when we're bonded, so will I. Once I take some of Tristan's power through her, Abatement will come for me, too."
AZ looks at her perplexed. "And the fact that you agreed to doing this? Especially for free?"
"I can't answer for everyone, but service is how I was raised. And..." She shrugs, flushes. "I love her. I won't let her fight alone." AZ purses her lips. Seeing a new side to the girl. Of course the squire was nothing but nice to her during everything and especially when meeting her. But AZ couldn't help but think she was naive.
Before she could say anything she felt a shadow overhead and her mood soured instantly. Something in her activated in alert. She's surprised when Sar is in front of her in a blink, dropped into a fighter's crouch—hips angled, knees bent, on guard, ready to strike.
"VASSAL CARTER." SEL TAKES THREE DETERMINED STEPS TOWARDS HER BEFORE SAR SLIDES BETWEEN THEM. Even though the Merlin is the superior opponent with a foot of height on her, the pint-size girl glares up at him poised for a fight.
"Back off, Sel. I'm taking AZ to her dorm."
"Not before I question her." It's only when he moves that they notice something's not right. He stumbles. Actually loses his footing.
AZ couldn't help but comment. "Getting drunk on the job that's embarrassing." She gives him a dirty look, ignoring that pull of connection again.
Sar gives her a pleading look. Before noticing his stature as well. "What that-"
"She's not what she seems," He says imperiously. He dashes around Sar, but he's nowhere near as fast as he was earlier. When he comes to a stop, he towers over AZ—and brings a hot, oppressive cloud of smoke, charred cinnamon, and leather. AZ covers her mouth from the mix of smell.
"Why don't you take me court and we can settle this once and for all." She says with a nonchalant tone. "You'll only look like a fool when proven wrong." Sels eyes sharpen again and he moves to point a finger at her.
"You're blitzed, buddy. Move." Sar wriggles her arm between them and pushes him away from her. He bats at her hand—and misses. The economy of movement he'd always displayed is gone; every gesture imprecise, too big.
It's the most surreal thing shes ever seen, and after a night like tonight, that was saying alot.
AZ wants to laugh. She covers her hand with her mouth and lets out a cackle of disbelief. "No way I'm witnessing this right now?"
"This is not a laughing matter. You don't know how deep you are in this situation."
"I have a good idea." She grits out.
"Nonsense. Only a fool would say that and only a fool would have the nerve to threaten me." Sel slurs and she rolls her eyes. Clearly noticing a buzz from him. She points in his direction asking Sar.
"Somebody needs to dissect his brain and research that shit i'm so serious." The squire whos still struggling against the Merlin goes to answer.
"He's aether-drunk." She says.
"So I was right." AZ deadpans observing him, she then lets out a smirk. "Even a tough guy like you has his vulnerabilities. Not too shabby." Even drunk on aether Sel doesn't miss the sarcasm as he tries to reach her.
"Don't test me!" He wobbles again. Though she stands and just crosses her arms.
Sar pushes against him with her full weight, but Sel sort of drapes his body over her. She grunts in frustration. "Must have just come from bonding with Felicity and Russ. The Warrior's Oath is pretty hard-core, and on top of that, he Oathed Nick and Bree tonight too."
That strange, intoxicated look on his face after the Oath of Fealty. His bloodshot eyes now. The dark pink of his parted lips, the angry flush on his cheeks. "I am not!" Sel declares loudly. It'd be funny if she didn't know how lethal he was.
No, it was still so fucking funny.
Sar shoves him hard and Sel growls at her. Shockingly, she growls back. It's a small, silly-sounding imitation of his low rumble, but it works. He blinks at her and gives a confused grimace that is, the extreme opposite of intimidating.
"I thought you said nobody else stands up to him?" AZ said with a slightly amused smirk. Sar gives her a cheeky smile back. "And I remember somebody saying that someone should start."
"My influence, I'm glad it came through." She put her hand on her chest with sporting dramatic fake tears.
"I'm not leaving you alone with AZ when you're like this. Let's go." Sar demands to Sel but he still stays in his spot.
"Tonight shouldn't have happened, Sar," he mutters. His dark brows draw together as if he's seeing it happen all over again. "Nothing like that... has ever happened before. When the Regents find out..."
Sarah's tone turns soothing. "It wasn't your fault."
"That's not what they'll say," Sel whispers, his hoarse voice almost lost to the wind. His eyes land on AZ and narrow accusingly.
"Shes simply a new Vassal trying to learn her way around the new things. And Bree is Nicks page. The King's Wisdom, pal. Don't even think of laying a hand—"
Sel scoffs. "He's fucking dormant. No wisdom there. Head's so far up his own ass, he wouldn't notice Arthur's Call if it bit him there!"
AZ wanted to call him out and say he was a kid throwing a temper tantrum. But she decided to keep her mouth shut and not trouble Sar further. But boy was that damn Merlin making it hard for her.
His eyes harden on her and she straightens her stance. That power in her shifted, not afraid."If you harm him," he murmurs, his voice cold, hollow, "I'll kill you. Burn through you until your blood becomes dust."
Sel watches and his mouth curls into a vicious grin. "You know I will, don't you? You know I can."
AZ lets out a short giggle. Before getting back to her composure.
"Sar, your feral dog has gotten too comfortable out in the open. Maybe you should put him back in his rightful cage." She says darkly and Sel's eyes grow even sharper growling at her. "Rather just throw him in there."
"Think you can just walk away and threaten me without consequence?!" Sel yells in disbelief as his drunkenness takes over and over.
Sar turns, pressing her back against Sel's chest to face AZ. "I've got him. Can you make it back on your own?"
"You don't gotta tell me twice." AZ throws a peace sign at the squire before giving the Merlin another menacing smirk. Sel glaring harder and harder at her but she didn't care she was exhausted and he was testing her again. Screw how attractive he was.
When she was far enough away from them, a few feet she made sure to turn around and say one last thing. Even though she knew the risk of saying it.
"Remember the night at the quarry when I said I wasn't going to find myself the only one on the ground? I really meant that shit."
Sels sharp hiss echoed among the outside but she didn't turn back to see his reaction
She only knew she pissed him off even more and that was good enough for her.
WELL DAMN AZ can't catch a break can she?? 😭 her little crush on Sar ends up side tracked cause Sar gotta be dating Tor 😒 and Sel! Out here trying to frame her name aint that crazy!
And now she's got these mysterious shit going on with her that she don't know. Somebody give her and Bree a spa bath cause lord don't they need it!
I hope as always y'all love this chapter! Thank you guys for the continuous support I appreciate everyone of you! Thanks a bunch yall!
To end the chapter on a fun I was dabbling on piccrew and was like how about I create AZ on here so here are some designs I made that I think is her and fits her the best! Mwah 💋
(Personal fav)
Hope y'all enjoyed them! And I'll see y'all later! :)
C, OUT!